Wildlife surrounds Elites

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Bassmaster Elite Series photographers are some of the best in the business at capturing action on the water at a professional fishing tournament. They spend hours on the water focusing on anglers casting and hopefully catching a fish in dramatic fashion.

But during those long days on the water, it’s not only anglers that catch their focus. The lakes the Elites visit are some of the most beautiful in the world, and every once in a while they come across eye-catching wildlife in that natural habitat. The following is a sampling from Lake Seminole, St. Johns River and Table Rock.

Photo: B.A.S.S.

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When you start in Georgia and Florida, you are almost certain to see a few 'gators laying around.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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They have a way of getting your attention.

Photo: Seigo Saito

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This is not the time to fall out of the boat.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Turtles, however, are seemingly everywhere, unless it’s early in the year and the water temperature is really cold.

Photo: Seigo Saito

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What they do see is a lot of is ospreys.

Photo: Seigo Saito

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Some folks refer to the osprey as a sea hawk, a fish eagle, fish hawk or river hawk.

Photo: James Overstreet

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They can be found virtually everywhere, but are really prevalent in the southern part of the country.

Photo: James Overstreet

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While watching Dean Rojas on St. Johns River, Chris Mitchell heard a commotion behind him. He swung the camera around in time to see an osprey dive into the water, seizing its lunch.

Photo: Chris Mitchell

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He said he was glad the camera was capturing the attack, because it appeared to the naked eye as a blur.

Photo: Chris Mitchell

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Proud of his catch, the osprey circled the boat in triumph.

Photo: Chris Mitchell

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Enough showboating, time to take his meal home...

Photo: Chris Mitchell

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...which was fortunately also nearby. Is this the osprey equivalent of holding up a big fish on the Elite Series stage?

Photo: Chris Mitchell

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Our photographers run across a lot of ospreys.

Photo: Seigo Saito

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: Darren Jacobson

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Photo: Darren Jacobson

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One of the most exciting birds to run across on the water is the bald eagle.

Photo: James Overstreet

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In late winter and early spring, bald eagles are prevalent in the south.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Many of them nest along the banks of our country’s fisheries.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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While eagles eat fish and other prey, coots are a favorite part of their diet at certain times of the year.

Photo: Seigo Saito

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Cormorants have become a common bird all over the country. Where fishermen catch fish, so do these birds.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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While not as pretty to look at as some birds...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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...They are efficient at catching fish.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Then there is the Canada goose.

Photo: Seigo Saito

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They can get fussy when an angler gets too close.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Wild turkeys are seen often. Like this jake...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...that decided to fly across Table Rock Lake.

Photo: James Overstreet

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They share the woods with the ever popular whitetail deer.

Photo: James Overstreet

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There are always shore birds like these curly bills...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...Or this snowy white egret that isn’t paying much attention to former Classic champ Chris Lane.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Or just your standard egret and blue-winged teal.

Photo: James Overstreet

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And the closer you get to the coast, the real bucket-mouths start showing up.